My Nuuksio - by Wilderness Guide

My name is Joel Pyykkönen. I am very happy to say that Nuuksio is a workplace for me. I work as a Finland Naturally Experiences's nature guide at the Finnish Nature Center Haltia.

When and how did you get familiar with Nuuksio National Park the first time?

I visited Nuuksio National Park for the first time as a child. My family moved from Kajaani to Espoo at the turn of the 2000s, and I remember that we went to Kattila Recreational Area for a sausage roast back then. A friend of mine from middle school lived along Nuuksiontie Road and nowadays, everyday life is spent in the same scenery.

What does Nuuksio National Park mean to you?

Forests and camping often mean insight and reflection to me. The most memorable moments are usually accompanied by some kind of adversity or other discomfort

What are your best memory/memories from Nuuksio National Park?

I remember my first independent night in the national park very well. I had to leave my bike somewhere on the edge of the Romvuori area after the route plan, I made with Google Maps, failed me. The hilliness of Nuuksio surprised the inexperienced, and when I got to the Mustalampi area, my feeling was shocking after pedaling all day in the summer heat with a backpack that was too heavy. The suffering caused by over-enthusiasm proved to be worth it when I woke up at night to walk on the beaches of Iso-Holma, and the early sunrise colored the mist floating over the lake in orange tones.

Another educational example happened later when I was already studying to be a wilderness guide. We were with our class on a five-day autumn hike in Nuuksio. I've always liked simple, functional solutions, and for the trip, I chose a tarpaulin tent that can be set up with ropes and knots for accommodation.

At the end of the first day of hiking, we camped at the Holma-Saarijärvi area.

Being tired, and as the sun was setting, I managed to hit my thumb wide open with an axe. I trusted my own first aid skills and decided to continue the trip despite the injury. Staying in the wilderness with a tarp and nine functioning fingers was an experience in itself. Later on, I heard that the story of my misfortune helped a colleague who had injured his leg by dropping a knife in a remote wilderness cabin. My thumb is doing well these days, despite the injury.

What makes Nuuksio a great recreational area?

I have been to several national parks in our country, but Nuuksio still manages to surprise me. The hilly terrain offers unique diversity, and in just a few kilometers, the traveler encounters a variety of forests, terrains, and landscapes. The accessibility of Nuuksio also surprises international travelers; just half an hour's drive from the city center of our country's capital lies more than 50 square kilometers of protected forest, where everyone is welcome. 

Joel Pyykkönen

Hero Image: Joel Pyykkönen